-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lionel Messi will captain Argentina for the first time as they take on Venezuela in a friendly in cricket-mad India Friday .

Messi has been handed the responsibility by new Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella after their disappointing Copa America campaign .

They went out in the quarterfinals to eventual winners Uruguay , costing then coach Sergio Batista his job .

`` He is the captain from now on , '' Sabella told gathered reporters Wednesday ahead of the match in the 120,000 capacity Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata .

`` We are looking to build a couple of options , looking for one or two players to build up a combination with him . ''

The arrival of World Footballer of the Year Messi in India has been greeted with much excitement and a big crowd gathered at Kolkata airport as he flew in .

Barcelona star Messi and his teammates will be looking for a morale-boosting win over their South American rivals in the biggest football match over played in India .

They will then go to Bangladesh for a friendly against Nigeria 's Super Eagles on September 6 as they prepare for 2014 World Cup qualifiers which begin in October .

`` Winning will give us confidence . This is the beginning of a long trip ahead and we hope it finishes with qualification to the World Cup , '' added Sabella .

Friday 's match will be played on an artificial pitch in a cricket stadium adapted for football .

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Lionel Messi to captain Argentina in friendly against Venezuela

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Match is taking place at the cricket stadium in Kolkata in India

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Argentina went out of the Copa America at the quarterfinal stage